In this course you can learn about the mechanics of global weather, the foundations of ocean meteorology, predictive modeling and how sailors receive data via satellite and use high-performance navigation software.
This course looks at oceanic meteorology and climatology through the lens of the sport of sailing.
You will gain a basic knowledge of meteorology needed by sailors to take part in a regatta such as the Barcelona World Race, the only double-handed, round the world regatta with no stops.
You will learn about the strategies employed during a round the world regatta and how these are put to use on board the latest ocean racing yachts.

Reviews

In this module you will learn how sailors use meteorology to sail around the world and to win round the world regattas.

All of their interest is focussed on the wind and they need theoretical, but above all practical, knowledge to help them to take the correct decisions at sea.
Remember you can access to the help forum.
If you are experiencing difficulty learning or accessing course content, or if you simply want more information.

Taught By

Tomàs Molina

Transcript

[MUSIC] In this type of boat, with one or two crew members, it is obvious that riding that boat will be totally impossible if there is no automatic system. So, many years ago, there were systems mechanical that served to carry the so-called wind autopilots. People could ride these boats easily and mechanically. But now we are talking about boats, whose speeds are very high, and that offer the degree of sophistication in maneuvering with many benefits, and therefore the technology offers us the possibility of installing automatic pilots. This autopilot is the component, I consider, the most important, and may sailors forgive me because, obviously, for them the mast, and the sails, are the most important thing. But a well-equipped boat without a good autopilot system, won't go anywhere. These boats, therefore, have up to three autopilots when going solo, and when two crew members go, two automatic pilot systems are usually installed. What is it and how does an autopilot work on a craft of this style? The autopilots are basically composed of a central processor, where there is a program that knows what to do. On the other hand, this program, that processor, has a input of information from the navigation server. That navigation box direction and wind intensity, wind speed, boat speed, heading, etc., etc. And this processor that controls the autopilot, takes all this information and gives precise orders by means of an electrical drive motor, called a drive unit, which makes the boat's rudder move. It makes the rudder of the boat move according to a small screen in which you indicate what you want to do. The current automatic pilots have a degree of very high sophistication because, using sensor systems of movement of the boat from top to bottom or from side to side. It makes you able to predict what movement the wave will do, detect the waves, etc., etc. And then you have a series of levels of programming that allows you to act more correctly to take advantage of that movement of the wave, etc., etc. The skipper, the boat's pilot, is always aware that this will work correctly. There are alarm systems that allow you, for example, if there is a fault in the autopilot, to be deactivated and put in position to sail to course. Navigating "a course" is when it sails the given course.

Explore our Catalog

Join for free and get personalized recommendations, updates and offers.